The new routes supported the council will be delivered by Carousel Buses and Thames Valley Buses from 6 April – including enhancements to 13 services that will boost access to health and leisure, schools, businesses and retail and encourage more people to take the bus as part of a healthier lifestyle that protects the environment.
As part of the council’s commitment to a cleaner and greener borough, the updates reflect the feedback from consultation with residents and businesses and will offer a combination of additional stops on key routes, increased frequency and better links across the borough’s towns, villages and surrounding areas.
Bus users will also benefit from a combination of new services, more direct routes and increased frequency of services to King Edward VII, Wexham Park and Heatherwood hospitals, Dedworth Medical Centre and Datchet GP Surgery. Visitors to Norden Farm Centre for the Arts will be able to take advantage of later services returning home after performances.
Cllr Geoff Hill, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport said: “Updates to bus services this spring are based on the feedback we received from local people and follow a highly competitive procurement process to ensure we unlock more opportunities for residents and businesses across our borough.
“I am delighted that the routes across the council will encourage more people to leave their car at home - supporting our vision for a cleaner and greener borough that connects our communities.”
Simon Fisher, General Manager of Thames Valley buses said: “We are delighted to be introducing a range of improvements with new links, more direct routes and high specification new vehicles in the coming months to help grow patronage. As a locally owned bus company, our dedicated team take pride in delivering the best service possible for people in the area, and are pleased that the Council understands the social and economic value in developing the bus network.”
Luke Marion, Carousel Buses Managing Director, said “Carousel has been steadily growing its presence in the Royal Borough over recent years, and we're proud to be partnering with the council to expand our presence in the borough further from 6th April.
"Our new 'Borough Bus' routes 3, 3A, 4, 7A, 9 and 52 will see several enhancements against the current network, with significantly improved evening and Sunday services, and many new and faster links being provided.
"And our wider Carousel Country network will be improving too, with an enhanced service 37 now extending to Bray, Fifield, Dedworth and Windsor; a new service 10/10A between Windsor and Staines; and an improved service 15 providing new links from Eton Wick to Taplow.
"We'll be making a £1.5M investment in new vehicles to support these improvements during 2025, so it's never been a better time for residents of the Royal Borough to give the bus a try."
Residents can see existing and updated timetables for bus services in the Royal Borough and a map of all bus services in the borough on our updated Bus Routes webpage
